Can body



B. E. SAUBESTRE OAR BODY 2 Sheets-Sheat 1 Filed Nov. 19, 1945 IN V EN TOR.

1 K ATTO R N EYS Oct. 26, 1948.- B. F. SAUBESTRE 2,452,071

' cm BODY Filed Nov. 19, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 26,1948

UNITED 2,452,071 CAN BODY Basil F. Saubestre, Elmhurst, N. Y assior to American Can Company, New York, N. iL, a corporation of New Jersey Application November 19, 1945, Serial No. ceases 4. Claims. (Cl. 220-16) The present invention relates to containers or cans and has particular reference to improvements in reenforcing the side seam of a can body and more specifically to improvements on the can bodies disclosed in United States Patent 2,259,498, issued October 21, 1941, to R. C. Taylor, on Can body, and in United States Patent 2,064,537, issued December 15, 1936, to W. E. Groenke, on Can body.

The present-invention contemplates the provision of a can body having aside seam capable of withstanding the high internal pressures developed in some liquids such as beer when enclosed and hermetically sealed in cans made from such bodies and pasteurized or otherwise treated, the side seam being disposed in such a manner as to present a smooth interior surface in the can to facilitate interior coating of the can.

In cans having side. seams located wholly within the can, it has been found difficult to satisfactorily cover the rounded edges of the seam with a liquid coating substance during the can lining operation. The coating substance has a tendency to drain away from the edges of the seam and thus leave them partially coated or entirely uncoated and hence expose or partially expose the material of the can to the deleterious effects of the contents.

Where the side seam is reenforced by a reshaping of the seam on the interior of the can to withstand the high internal pressures of beer and the like, a great many more rounded edges areformed which aggravate the matter considerably.

In order to obtain ideal conditions for internal coating of the can, it is preferable to locate the seam entirely on the exterior of the can. However, in a lap and lock seam this ideal location presents numerous soldering difliculties when operating under high speed rates of production. The production of such a seam is further complicated by the proper venting and maintenance of suficient capillary action through the seam to insure a proper flow of solder to all parts of the seam to produce a strong fully soldered seam joint.

The instant invention contemplates overcoming these difficulties by producing cans with an improved reenforced seam which is located partially within the can and is reenforced exteriorly of the can in such, a manner as to present a smooth interior surface which facilitates internal coating of the can while maintaining a fully soldered strong seam free of islands or other unsoldered portions within the seam.

An object of the invention is the provision of a can body capable of withstanding high internal pressures, having an improved reenforced side seam made up of a plurality of sections or zones of different thicknesses of material and having alternate hooks and overlaps, interlocked and imbedded from the exterior of the seam in such a manner as .to present a substantially smooth surface interiorly of the can body to facilitate coating of the body, these hooks and overlaps being separated by reentrant notches formed along the side seam edges of the body to permit the escape of air or gases when the side seam is soldered to provide a fully bonded side seam of maximum strength and pressure resistance.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a soldered side seam made up of alternate inthe parts of the side seam and these sections have .close bonding connection with a longitudinally extending hook formed as another part of the seam wherein the overlapped sections are vented by vent notches and the material of the body at the overlap is interlocked with the overlap sections to provide capillary action for the solder applied to the outside of the seam'to insure a ful'y bonded seam free of islands or other ,unsoldere d portions.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which. taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a can body embodying the present invention, the body being shown after the side seam has been completed, with the parts closed and hermetically sealed together;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a tubular shaped partially formed can body showing one stage in the formation of the side seam;

Fig. 3 is a face view of a body blank properly cut to provide for the can body shown in Figs.

1 and 2;

Fig. i is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a further step in the formation of the side seam;

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are enlarged transverse sectional details taken at-diflerent positions along the side seam substantially as indicated by the respective lines b8, 6B, 1-1 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is an, enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section of a portion of the side seam as viewed along the broken line 8-8 in Fig. 1. with parts broken away; and

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 6 and showing a modified form of the invention.

As a preferred embodiment of the instant inbody).

vention the drawings illustrate a sheet metal can body made oi tin plate or the like material and end lap region l2 at each corner of the blank 7 and a longitudinal central part It extending along theedge and in between the end notches. This longitudinal central part [8 is iormed with a pinrality oi shallow reentrant vent notches l4 spaced 1 at intervals along the blank edge. The drawings show three oi these notches although any number may be used as desired.

n the opposite side seam edge or the, blank similar end notches llare cut, one adjacent each corner oi the blank. At each oi these positions the corner is clipped oi! along an angular line It leaving an angular end lap region I! at each end of the blank. A series of pairs oi relatively deep reentrant vent notches it are also cut in the blank in spaced relation along this edge and these notches are in transverse alignment with the notches H in the opposite edge of the blank. Each pair or notches i8 defines a lug is therebetween. This notching of the blank edge produces end edge or outer sections 2| which are set of! between each end notch it and a single notch l8 or each pair adjacent. It also isolates two central edge or inner sections 22 which are set of! between spaced reentrant notches l8 intermediate adjacent lugs l8.

The blank is rolled or otherwise bent into cylindrical shape, as illustrated in Fig. 2, and the longitudinal blank edge It is bent back to provide a single continuous hook 25 containing the vent notches it. These notches 14 extend back into the hook just a short distance (about one thirtysecond oi an inch in an ordinary size of can In a, similar manner the blank edges 2| on the opposite side of the blank are bent in to provide .a pair of hooked-in sections 26 and the intermediate edge sections 22 are bent in the same manner to provide a pair of turned-in hook sections 21. This bending of the edge sections 2 I 22 into the hook sections 28, 21 setsofi under the of the recesses and to reduce the thickness oi the seam at each lug to reeniorce the seam. This term a plurality oi depressions 28 in the seam on the outside oi the body while leaving the seam on the inside straight and smooth.'

Along one side oi each oi the depressions the metal or the outer layer oi the seam is ,bent down into the vent notches It. as shown in Figs. 6 and 8, to iorm projections 88 to 1111 in these notches.

During thisbumping or pressing and indentlnz or the seam part each lug It is pressed down into the underlying wall of the body. thus forming a lugs IS, a plurality of recesses 28 which include the reentrant notches l8. This produces the structure illustrated in Fig. 2.

The open edges of the formed blank are then united, the longitudinal or single continuous hook 26 being engaged with the turned-in hook sections 28 and the turned-in hook sections 21 as illustrated in Fig. 4. The angular or cut-away lap portions I! come just outside of the end lap sections I2 and the lugs [9 project over the outside wall of the can body adjacent the vent notches it in the hook 25, with these notches It in registry with the recesses 28 under the lugs.

A bumped side seam is then formed by pressing together the interlocked parts, this action bringing the angular end lap sections i1 into metal to metal contact with the end lap sections I2. The lugs I8 are pressed into close metal to metal engagement with the body wall adjacent the hook 25 and are forced inwardly from the exterior of the body into the outer surface of the body.

In this bumping or pressing of theseam, portions of the two outer layers of the seam adjacent the lugs It, i. e., the wall of the body and its connecting hook 25, are pressed inwardly from the exterior of the body into the recesses 28 as best shown in Figs. 6 and 8 to fill in the spaces pocket or hollow 38 for the lug (Figs.'8 and 8).

At the same time the wall oi the body, adjacent,

the side seam is bent outwardly into alignment with the outer layer oi the seem as best shown facilitates lining or coating oi the body interior surface.

This bending oi the body wall also iorms a shallow trough 38 (Fig. 7) a iacent the rounded inside edge of the seam which collects suiilcient coating substance during the lining operation to prevent the coating substance from draining away from the seam edge to expose the edge.

. The bending oi the edges oi the blank, the interlocking oi the hook parts and the pressing to ether oi the seam sections as iust described are all done automatically during the manu-' facture oi the can by the usual body maker or other type 0! body iorming machine. The side seam is then hermetically sealed by the introduction oi solder applied from the outside in the usual manner. The distribution or the solder in the finally prepared seam is graphically illustrated in Figs. 5, 6. l and 8, the solder being designated by the numeral 42.

As will be observed by referring to Fig. 5 the outer lap section I! is indented or slightly raised to receive the inner lap portion II. The parts l2, I! are first bumped into close metal to metal contact and then the solder l2 flows into and tightly bonds these parts together.

Figure 6 more clearly illustrates how the lugs I9 are pressed into the body wall to provide the pocket 36 which is filled with solder. At this point the section of the longitudinal hook 25. which is directly in line with the notches It; is pressed tightly against the other part oi the hook or flattened as indicated at 43.

This hook zone tor a width equal to the notches i4 is not interhooked with the other parts of the seam. The projections 38 adjacent the base oi the lugs i8 extend down into the notches I4 iormed in this pressed down hook sectionzb and terminate adjacent the edge 01! the hook. This fllls the space so that a narrow channel is formed through the seam-at this position to insure capillary action of the solder. The solder 42 at this position not only fills in the pocket 35 but also flows between and binds together the flattened sections of the hook 25 and also binds it with hook projections 83 and the body wall at the depressions 29. 'The resulting interior wall of the body is in this manner made smooth and straight. as hereinbeiore mentioned.

In Fig. 7 there is illustrated the full hooked position of the hook 25 where it interengages with one oi its hooks 21, this interlocked condition being designated by the numeral 44. Here again solder closely binds the parts together.

In Figs. to 8, inclusive, which are drawn to an enlarged scale it has been necessary to greatly exaggerate the thickness of the body wall and also the thickness of the solder. This should be kept in mind when viewing these figures. In reality there is metal to metal contact in the lapped and hooked sections and the film of solder therebetween is indeed very thin.

In the modified form of the invention as illustrated in Fig. 9 the vent notches It, the depressions 29, and the seam hook projections 93 are applied to a can body of the type shown in the above mentioned Groenke patent, in which the lugs i9 are omitted as is sometimes desirable for certain kinds oi cans. In such a construction of can body the hook projections 33 terminate at the folded edge of the hook 25 and no not merge into an overlapping lug as in the preferred form of the invention. The omission of the lugs i9 however does not in any way alter the invention.

This construction and the use of different types of sections of interlocked and overlapped edges together with the hook projections 33 and the complete venting afforded by the reentrant notches i8 and the vent notches M, reenforce the side seam and prevents any pulling away or unrolling of the intermediate seam parts. The forming of the depressions 29 in the outer surface of the seam and the forming of the tapered wall sections 38, 37 and the trough 38 on the inside of the body provide a substantially smooth interior for the body so that lining of the interior surface is facilitated, as hereinbefore mentioned.

The resulting can body is much stronger than a can body not so reenforced and experiment has shown that such a can body may be embodied in a can suitable for packaging beer where great internal pressures are often developed. The smooth interior of the can body also insures that all surfaces including those of the side seam are thoroughly covered with the lining substance so that no exposed surfaces obtain.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will. be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbeiore described being merely a prefer; ed embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A reenforced can body capable of resisting high internal pressures and having inner and outer marginalhook edges bent in opposite directions along predetermined lines offold interlocked in a side seam and secured together in a solder bond in the side seam, a plurality of open vent notches extending inwardly from the outer edge of the inner hook at spaced intervals therealong. and a straight non-folded portion of the can body on the outside of said body adjacent each of said notches extending into and substantially filling said notches to provide vented passageways through said seam for the capillary action of solder applied to the outside of the seam to insure a fully bonded seam free of islands and other unsoldered portions.

2. A reenforced can body capable of resisting high internal pressures and having inner and outer marginal hook edges bent in opposite directions along predetermined lines of fold interlocked in'a side seam and secured together in a solder bond in the side seam, a plurality of vent notches formed in both of said hooks at spaced intervals therealong, the notche in one of said hooks being in alignment with the notches in the other of said hooks, a portion of said inner hook adjacent the notches therein extending into the notches in said'outer hook, and a portion of the can body on the outside of said body adjacent each of said notches in said inner hook extending into and substantially filling said notche in said inner hook to provide vented high internal pressures and having inner and outer -marginal hook edges bent in opposite directions along predetermined lines of fold interlocked in a side seam and secured together in a solder bond in the side seam, a plurality of shallow vent notches formed in one of said hooks at spaced intervals therealong, a plurality of deep vent notches formed in the other of said hooks in alignment with said shallow vent notches, a portion of said hook having the shallow vent notches extending into and substantially filling said deep vent notches, and a portion of the can body extending into and substantially filling said shallow vent notches to provide vented passageways through said seam for the capillary action of solder applied to the outside of the seam to insure a fully bonded seam free of islands and other unsoldered portions.

4. A reenforced can body capable of resisting high internal pressures and having inner and outer marginal hook edges interlocked in a side seam and secured together in a solder bond, a plurality of seam venting notches formed in said inner hook at spaced intervals therealong, a

plurality of alternate relatively narrow overlapping portions separated by open substantially V-shaped reentrant notches formed in said outer hook, said overlapping portions engaging the outer surface of the body adjacent the seam and impressed into the outer surface of the can body.

portions of said can body adjacent its overlapping portions extend ng into and substantially filling said venting notches in said inner hook to v provide capillary acting passageways in said seam to facilitate the penetration of solder applied to the outside of the seam to insure a fully bonded seam.

BASIL F. SAUBES'I'RE.

REFENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,625,229 Stollberg Apr. 19,- 1927 2,093,056 Plumb Sept. 14, 1937 2,185,236 Then Jan. 2, 1940 2,259,498 Taylor Oct. 21, 1941 

